Project Managers Are the Electromagnetic Force of Our Organization
The hats our Project Managers must wear are many; the skills they must have are diverse. In-building public safety systems can take years to complete and include various sub-contractors and local authorities throughout a project’s lifecycle. They require consistent oversight over long periods, which is why excellent project management skills are so crucial in our business. Any delay in the timeline could mean a delayed Certificate of Occupancy for the building’s owner. Our rapid growth since our firm’s inception in 2016 wouldn’t have been possible without their technical expertise and steady hands on the tiller.
Jude Fauteux, the first Project Manager we hired, started with RF Solutions in June 2017. Since then, he’s been responsible for getting many of our Auxiliary Radio Communication Systems (ARCS) over the finish line and receiving their FDNY Letter of Approval. Some of his recent successes include three projects in the Bronx, a mixed-use project in the Soundview neighborhood, an affordable senior housing rental apartment building, and the redevelopment of a long underutilized manufacturing district, overlooking the Sheridan Expressway and the Bronx River, as well as a 32 story tower in Brooklyn.
Neil Shore started with us in August 2018, having spent decades working as a product specialist at Mercedes Benz, USA. Neil is known for surpassing expectations to receive the sought after FDNY Letter of Approvals. Some of his recent projects include a 10-story affordable housing building developed by L+M Development Partners and B&B Urban in Brooklyn, a distinguished new property with 11 boutique residences built by Extell Development Company in Manhattan, a 14-story building with 82 apartments, part of Locust Manor Estates in Queens, a new apartment development by Velocity Management in Brooklyn, a unique, state of the art office building in Noho developed by CBSK Ironstate, and a 25-story residential tower developed by SHVO, in the up-and-coming Hudson Square bordering Soho. Many of these projects are repeat clients. Neil says, “I will go to any length to get the job done. The show must go on!”
These are just two members of our project management team. Our PMs have many years of construction management experience and have acquired substantial knowledge of RF propagation and principles. They are well versed in NFPA, IFC, electrical and building codes required for in-building systems in public safety and cellular enhancement. Our PMs join a project at its inception and play an integral role over the project’s lifespan. The PM begins with a top-level project review with clients to discuss the design and the proposed implementation. They’ll ensure all of the system’s components on the Bill of Materials arrive safely at the job site. They take the time to train the installers on reading blueprints and proper cable installation. They return to the job site to confirm the installed system meets our firm’s expectations so that when the time comes for the inspection, there are no surprises. And finally, the PMs submit the necessary documents to the FDNY for filing. Our PMs are on the frontline, managing all aspects of the project, ensuring adherence to all regulations and requirements. They see the big picture, and they are excellent prioritizers. And, they almost always do it with a sense of humor and a smile. At RFS, we take pride in the work we do, and it’s incredibly rewarding for our PMs to know that they play a part in making NYC safe for the people who live and work there.